Of all the plane crashes I’ve ever heard of, this one may be the most bizarre.

An escaped crocodile on a plane is being blamed for the crash and death of 19 people in the Democratic Republic of Congo back on August 25th. Apparently, the reptile was being smuggled in someone’s carry-on, when it escaped — causing a panic that eventually resulted in the plane “tipping” and crashing into a house. From AOL News:

The panic started when a terrified stewardess “hurried” toward the cockpit, followed by passengers. That threw the small aircraft off balance, sending it into a field of thatched huts “despite the desperate efforts of the pilot,” The Sun tabloid reported, citing an article originally published in Jeune Afrique, a French-language news magazine.

There was only one survivor, which is why we know what happened. Well actually, there were two. The croc survived the crash, only to be macheted to death by surprised rescuers searching through the wreckage.

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.